Fastening device



July 14, 195 9 L. M. MOGHADAM FASTENING DEVICE Filed Jan. 14, 1955 IN VENTOR LEO/V W MOI/l,

United States Patent Y 2,894,304 FASTENING DEVICE Iieon Marcofi Moghadain, Washington, D.C.; now by i change of name to Leo Markolf-Moghadam l r f Application January 14, 19,55,,S erial No. 481,868 Claims. (Cl. 24-113 close a connectorhaving th e multiplicity of uses of the deviceherein disclosed. Prior art devices, for the most,

part, require a knotting or binding operation which requires a certain degree of manual dexterity and which niaybe unusually diificu-lt whe'n using cord of exceedingly small or very large diameter. Furthermore, generally speaking, such prior art devices must necessarily be provided in a great number of different sizes to accommodate cords and ropes of a variety of sizes.

"The present invention provides a connector which is simple to utilize and which is ofsuch a construction that a number of sizes of cords or wires may be used with a single connector size.

.According to the present invention, a bent wire or a,

pair of wires is twisted to provide an intermediate loop and two spirally wound endportions. The end portions may be twisted so as to provide a tapering twist in which the loops are of a gradually-diminishing size, or the,

twistedend portions may consist of a plurality of groups of twists of different sizes, each group comprising a num- 'ber oftwists of the same size, or the twisted end portions,

may comprise twists of the same size. A cord maybe passed through the enlargedcentral loop and pulled until ittbecomes engaged in one of the twisted end portions.

Theucord will be tightly retained in this position for, as the. cord is pulled away from the connector, the end portion will be more tightly gripped by the twisted end portion of the connector. l

ru -One of the primary advantages of the present invention is its adaptability, for the presently-disclosed connector may be used with ribbon, string, rope, cord, wire, thread,

or yarn. ltis to be understood that in the following detailed description and claims the word cord as used is intended to cover any of the foregoing materials. providing a variety of sizes of twists in the connector the same connector may be used, with bothvery heavy cord and with finethreadi l p A, primary. object of the present invention isto provide fastening device which is extremely simple to operate. and which will tightly retain the material with whichjit, is used. i

1, nother object of the present invention is to provide aconne ting device made of wire which is readily adaptatoa n1ultiplicity of uses. 5 ,0

ther objectsand many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of the present invention showing a pair of tapered twisted end portions with two threads engaged therewith,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the present invention having three groups of twists of different sizes, showing large cords engaged in the twisted portions,

Fig. 3 discloses still another embodiment having twists of the same size,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a fastening device designed for use as a shoelace connector, or as a belt fastener, Fig. 5 is a plan view of a form of the invention designed for use in packaging,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial plan view of the connector shown in Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 discloses a plan view of another form of the present invention.

Referring now specifically to Fig. 1, there is shown at 1 and 2 a pair ofwires which are twisted together to provide an intermediate loop 3 and twisted end portions 4 and 5. The twisted end portions are so formed that the strands substantially contact one another and are resiliently biased towards each other. These strands however define a series of small substantially elliptical loops. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the twists 6 immediately adjacent the intermediate loop are of the largest size and the twists constantly diminish in size to the smallest size adjacent the ends of the wires such as shown at 7. Accordingly the small substantially elliptical loops also diminish in size from the intermediate loop 3 to the ends of the strands. Cord is passed through the intermediate loop 3 and is pulled through the twisted end portions 4 or 5 so as to rotate the cord or the fastening device until the cord is tightly gripped within one of the small substantially elliptical loops formed by the twists. It can readily be seen that the point at which the cord will be gripped will depend upon the size of the cord, the larger sizes being retained by the twists 6 and the smaller sizes by the twists 7, and, accordingly the small substantially elliptical loops formed by the twists are also of the same size.

Fig. 2 discloses a pair of wires 8 and 9 having: twisted end portions. Each end portion in this embodiment is. provided with groups of twists of three sizes. At 10 is shown a large twist, at 11 a twist of intermediate size and at 12 the smallest twist.

In Fig. 3 is shown a pair of wires 13 and 14 having twisted end portions 15 and 16. In this embodiment the twists are all of the same size.

In any of the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the connector may be made of a single wire bent upon itself to form the intermediate loop and twisted end portions. When forming the connector of fine wire, it is unnecessary to provide any sort of securing means for the wire ends. However, when using large wires when using the device to connect large cables, it is possible that the wire ends be soldered or spot welded.

In Fig. 4 one type of connector is shown in which the wire 17 is provided with twisted end portionshaving twists of two sizes as shown at 18 and 19. The wire 17 is curved as shown so that it may be used to connect shoelaces. The connector fits snugly against the top of the shoe and the laces are secured in the twisted end portions. The use of a connector to secure shoelaces insures that the laces will be firmly retained in their tightened position and yet may be readily loosened, if desired, to adjust the degree of tightness. It is apparent that the embodiments of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1, 2or 3 may beused as'a connector for Shoelaces. It isapparent also that a connector such as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 may be curved as required in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 4 so that the connector may be ,Pa.tented July 14, 19 59 used with a belt, for example. The end portions of the belt may be provided with tabs or cards which are not shown, if necessary, to easily fit within the twisted end portions of the connector. a

In Figs. 5 and'6 there is disclosed a fastemng dev ce designed specifically for thepackagingarta Connectors 20 and 21 whichare shown as being of the, typedisclosed in;Fig.. 3 are securedt ogether with the twisted end portions-.of one connector extending outwardly atninety. degrees with respect to the end portions of the other connector. The, connectors. may be secured together in any suitable" manner as by soldering or welding as shown at.22 in Fig.6. It is apparent that, if desired, connectors otthe..typeshowninFig. l or 2 couldbeused in. the mannershown in, Fig. 15. Two cords or ribbons are used'bo tie a package and each end of a ribbon is passed through one of: the, twistedendportionsg- By use of this fastening device unskilled persons may tie up a package more quickly and moresecurely than was possible here tofore. It is apparent that large bows or other decorative devices may be secured on top of the connector so as to produce an artistic package.

IniFig. 7 there is shown a modified design of a connector which 'isiuseful specifically in connection with catches for jewelry andthe like. An end portion of the connector is provided with an eyelet 23 to which one end of the bracelet or other jewelry may be permanently attached. The opposite end of the connector is provided with-a protective head 24 which may be of plastic or other suitable material. It can be readily seen that the end of the jewelry is engaged in twisted end portion 24 to secure the jewelry in place. It is apparent that any of the modifications shown in Figs. 1 to 3 may be used in connection with this design. It is also possible to provide a protective head similar to thatshown at 24 in place offeyelet 23.

In' order to use a connector according to thepresent invention, the cord is passed through the enlarged central loop and portions of the cord are pulled through the twists of the end portion rotating the cord or connector until the card is tightly engaged by a small substantially elliptical loop of the appropriate size. Cords of various sizes are shown in engaged position in Figs. 1 and 2.

The spring wedging effect increaseswith movement of the cord through the twistsof decreasing radii. This increase in wedging effect is dueto (l) the decrease in elasticity of the twistswith smaller radii and (2). the decrease in the wedge. angle which is caused by tension applied to the connector and the inseparable ends. This latter effect also serves to increase the wedging etfect in connection with use of the connector having twists of the same size.

The presently-described invention has utility particularly' where a secure quickly-detachable connection is desired. For example, with fishing tackle it is customary to attach the fish hook to the line by means of a leader and a detachable knot. When the line becomeswet and theknot tightens, it is difficult to loosen the knot to remove the hook. By using the'fastening device herein described, it is possible to quickly secure or remove the hook leader from the line.

The invention also has particular utility wherever a line tightening means isrequired. For example, the present invention is well suited for-use in connection with obtaining the correct degree of tautness for tent lines and with wires in the building industry. The presently-described connector also provides a detachable line tightener forclotheslines and the like.

The present invention may also'be used wherever it is desirable to provide a means for-relieving a certain portion of a line from tension. For example, when splicing electrical conductors it is desirable'to provide some means to prevent the pulling of the splice. A connector accord! 4 ing to Figs. 1 to 3 may be applied to the line with the portions of the conductor adjacent each side of the splice secured in a twisted end portion of the connector.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A fastening device-of the-'classdescribed for clampingia cord. or; the, like,; comprising av plurality of. wire strands interconnected at their endsand forming a relatively large elongated completely closed loop converging at least at one end in an end portion of a series of relatively small substantially elliptical loops, said end portion being comprised solely of twisted strands resiliently biased toward each other and at least the extreme end thereof being inseparable, and at least the first twist adjacentthe large loop being sufiiciently resilient to:pa$s the, cord, whereby a cord passed through the large loop may be drawn inbetween the strands of the end portion. to be clampingly engaged by said strands. v

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the twists; of saidend portion are of constantly diminishing; amp1itude to provide clamping means for cords of varying; diameter.

3. A device as defined in claim' 1 wherein the twists. of said end portion are formed of groups of twists,. each.; group comprising-'twistsof the same size, and the size of the twistsofeach. group being progressively smaller; in. the direction of the. extreme;- ends.

4. A fastening device of the class described for clampr. ing a cord. or. the like,-comprising a plurality of-wire= strands interconnected at their ends andforminga relatively large completely closed elongated loop converging; atoppositeends in; end portions each of a series; of: relatively small substantially ellipticalloops, saidend. portions eachbeing comprised solely of twisted strands resiliently biased. toward each other, and at leastthe: extreme end of each being-inseparable,- and at least the: first twist adjacent the large loop being 'sufiiciently resilik" ent to pass thecord, whereby a cord passed throughthe large loop may be drawn in between the strands .of an; end portion to be elarnpingly engaged by the strands: of said end portion.

5. A fasteningdevice of the-class described for clamp ing cords or the like, comprising pairsof wire strands. each pair forming a relatively large. completely closedelongatedi central-loop and converging at, opposite ends in end portions each of a series ,of relatively smaller substantially elliptical loops, said end portions each being, comprised solely of twisted strands: resiliently biased toward each" other, and at leastvthe extreme end ofeach being inseparable and at least the first twistadjacent the enlarged loop being sufliciently resilientto pass the cord-, whereby a cord passed throughthe large loop may be. drawn in" between thestrands of an end-portion to be clampingly engaged by the strands. of said end portion} saidtcentral loops being disposedat an. angle with relation: to. one .anotherand in overlying relationship and being secured'to each other intermediate. the twisted end P01110118;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 9750811 Griswold V Nov..23',,1869 449.072 enlistv Mar. 24,1891. 541,120 Root June 18, 1895..

1,129,368 Smith Feb. 2-3, 1915 1.2061389 Forster Nov. 2s,v 1916 2,108,598 Burr Feb. 15, 1938 2,309,315 Hirsch,,. .,.Ian.26,.1943 

